Alkass Digital
Belarusian Victoria Azarenka, who won the Qatar title back in 2012 and 2013, qualified for the second round of the Qatar TotalEnergies Open after defeating feisty Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan 5-7, 6-2, 7-5 in two hours and 49 minutes.
The two-time Grand Slam winner fought back from 0-4 down in the deciding set during which Putintseva also held match-point.
With the win, Azarenka is on track for a third title in Qatar as she seeks to hold the record for most title wins in Qatar, which she currently shares with Russians Anastasia Myskina (2003 and 2004), and Maria Sharapova (2005 and 2008), and Czech Petra Kvitova (2018 and 2021).
Fourteenth seed Jessica Pegula of the US beat Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic 6-3, 6-2 in 70 minutes. Pegula, who played the Doha semi-finals last year as a qualifier, hit three aces in her second win over Siniakova. The American will face Slovenian qualifier Kaja Juvan in the next round of the seven-day tournament.
In another clash, Belgium's Alison van Uytvanck eased past former champion Vera Zvonareva of Russia in straight sets to reach the second round, Van Uytvanck won 6-4, 6-4 in a minute short of two hours against the 2011 champion in Qatar.
Also yesterday, Juvan of Slovenia kicked off her Qatar campaign with a commanding show against Stefanie Voegele of Switzerland. Juvan won 6-4, 6-2 in 80 minutes.
Romania's Sorana Cirstea also advanced after she beat Mayar Sherif of Egypt, also in straight sets. Cirstea, who is sitting on her highest ever ranking of 30, won 6-2, 6-1 in 68 minutes. Cirstea, one of three Romanians in the draw, will now play last year's runners-up Garbine Muguruza of Spain.
Aliaksandra Sasnovic of Belarus beat Shuai Zhang of China 6-1, 6-1 in less than an hour. Sasnovic, 27, fired four aces as she wrapped up the match with ease against her vastly experienced Chinese opponent.
American Madison Brengle eased past Turkeys Ipek Oz in straight sets. Brengle won 7-5, 6-3. Croatia's Ana Konjuh beat Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk in three sets. Konjuh won 4-6, 7-5, 6-3.